Thursday, July 31, 2014
Tonight's Setlist: Avant-Garde, Twangy and Influential Options
Posted By Jennifer Savage on Thu, Jul 31, 2014 at 12:49 PM
To a certain group of avant-garde rock fans — do you count yourself among them? — Dead Rider and Free Salamander Exhibit are legend.
Dead Rider pulls off loopy time signatures, seemingly random distortion and oddball bits of sound here and there, all while maintaining a sound hypnotic enough you can't turn away. Reminds me of driving down a highway late at night, so tired the familiar becomes unrecognizable — trees branches melting into waving arms, etc. — and you wonder if you're tripping or the world is, so you open your eyes wide and sit up straighter, but the weirdness never stops. This is much safer.
Free Salamander Exhibit brings a harder, more proggy edge and ups the art factor visually, at least judging by the videos I watched. Experience the experimental at the Jambalaya, 9 p.m., $8 cover, 21-and-over. Humboldt's Neighbors open.
A-town #2
Ask Sophie brings the folk punk down from Washington state to the Alibi but you know what? Although they are labeled "folk punk," that's just a fancy name for "Kinda old-style like say, perhaps, Devil Makes Three, with a certain amount of twang and an endearing attitude." The band's new album is titled Drinkin', Cussin', Dyin' and the tour is determined to "Taint the Wild West," so I think we can all agree on what's going on here, yes? Featuring Humboldt native William Coleman, the music gets going at 10 p.m. or so.
Cover's $5, show is 21-and-over.
Blue Lake
In other names of influence, David Kilgour and the Heavy Eights play the Logger Bar starting at 9 p.m. Mmmmm, the opening bars of the band's "Christopher Columbus" sold me. Gentle and enticing, I immediately wanted more. Unsurprising given Kilgour's lineage — he founded The Clean, one of New Zealand's most lauded bands and typically regarded as making the music that turned NZ on to homegrown indie rock. Fellow NZers The Shifting Sands open the show.
Free, 21-and-over.
As for the rest of the weekend... here!
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Monday, July 28, 2014
Tonight's Setlist: The Siren Calls
Posted By Jennifer Savage on Mon, Jul 28, 2014 at 1:55 PM
Tonight for example, the Siren's Song Tavern is the site once again of a fun, fun show, this time with Ruby Pins, all quiet vocals and louder sounds that wander the pop gamut, Silver Shadows, described as "Veruca Salt meets Lush," and our very own Monster Women. All ages and free at 8 p.m.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Tonight's Setlist: Remembering Tina, Festive Festivals, Burlesque, Dreamy Pop and Sludge
Posted By Jennifer Savage on Sat, Jul 26, 2014 at 3:22 PM
Photo by Bob Doran
On a serious note — although I sense the event will be as much celebration as memorial — a bunch of former/current denizens of the Humboldt County punk scene are hosting Tina Bina Boob Ops Wake, a gig/remembrance for Tina Fraser, who passed away from cancer earlier this year. Tina was the sister of Tyce Fraser, who sang in Eggly Bagelface and other bands in the '80s, and photographed and made flyers for several shows. In honor of her role in the music scene, the memorial begins with a flyer/art show at T's Café North (formerly Crosswinds) at 6 p.m. Then The Buffy Swayze and Guns & Barrels will play at Humboldt Brew from 8 to 10 p.m. The entire event is open to the public, no cover, but donations will be accepted to cover expenses. At press time, organizers were hoping to make it all ages.
Meanwhile, more summer festival fun continues out Lost Coast way with Roll on the Mattole, the annual Honeydew Volunteer Fire Co. fundraiser. This year's lineup features Absynth Quintet, Moonshine Mountain Band, Ishi Dube, DJ Marjo Lak, Asleep in a Creek, F-Holes on the Hill and Lost Coast Marimbas, plus the firefighter's challenge, an oyster bar, Rex Bohn auctioneer excitement and so much more. The event runs from noon 'til midnight. Tickets are $25 adults, $20 students and seniors, children under 12 free with adult.
Back in the northerly region of Humboldt, The Blue Lake Music Festival kicks off at 11 a.m. in Perigot Park with Woven Roots, Motherlode, Silver Hammer, Jimi Jeff and the Gypsy Band, Crossbones, Mojo Brown, Doug Fir and the 2x4s, The Movers and the Shakers and Abstract. Entry free is $10 "if you can afford it."
The Caravan of GLAM, Portland's queer cabaret troupe, brings a night full of debauchery, raffles and off-the-wall performances to the Jambalaya with DJs Pressure Anya providing the evening's soundtrack. The troupe consists of all genres of performers: drag, burlesque (male and female), S&M, acrobats, comedians, singers, gymnasts and sideshow performers. Doors open at 8 p.m., show starts at 10 p.m., tickets are $10 general and $20 VIP. Do I need to tell you it's 21-and-over?
Over in E-town, you can sway and smile to the dreamy psych pop of Austin's Technicolor Hearts, above, at the Palm Lounge. Also performing, locals The Fairy Rings and a special solo performance by guitar slinger Erin Cearley. Free, 9 p.m., 21-and-over.
But wait, that's not all! See what I mean about this week? You'd think it was October. At the Alibi, Conneticut's Sea of Bones delivers heavy atmospheric sludge joined by trippy Golden Staters Mystics in Bali. Music starts around 11 p.m., cover's $5, 21-and-over.
Get more Setlist for your upcoming live music needs!
Friday, July 25, 2014
Rock Beats Fire
Posted By Henry Ellis on Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 2:00 PM
It's easy to forget just how far the county line extends. Once you make it out to the Mattole Valley, though, you're immediately happy to claim it as part of Humboldt's beautiful landscape. Protecting it, particularly during dry seasons like this one, requires a top-notch fire service. The 25th annual Roll on the Mattole is all about keeping the Honeydew Fire Company shipshape ($25, $20).
On Saturday, July 26, from noon until midnight, the Mattole Grange will be vibrating from the beats of a slew of eclectic bands, including the Absynth Quintet, MoonshineMountain Band, DJ Marjo Lak, the F-Holes on the Hill and others.
The musical showcase could stand alone, but it doesn't need to. The grange will be full of local vendor booths, food and drink, kids' games and more. The highlight of the day, though, is the Wildland Firefighters' Challenge. Watch as members of the Honeydew Fire Department compete to see who will reign supreme in games of physical strength, agility and good old fun.
Bring the whole family and make a day of it, but leave your dog at home. You can always bring Fido some barbecue.
Tonight's Setlist: Dig Deep, Dance Hard, Goth Out (VIDEO)
Posted By Jennifer Savage on Fri, Jul 25, 2014 at 9:57 AM
When's the last time you went to the Digger? Exactly. What a perfect opportunity to head out to the Clam Beach Inn — with your designated driver, natch — and witness Humboldt skate rockers Imperial Destructo, the punk-blues (emphasis on punk) stylings of Nebraska's Saint Christopher and the dirty folk of Montana's Whiskey Hooves (see video above). I'm guessing the show's got a $3 cover and a 9 p.m.-ish start time, and am positive it's 21-and-over.
Maybe loud, dirty punk rock is not your thing. Maybe you'd like to shake your booty, which is just another way to stick it to the man, amirite? (For a long time, I thought the line was, "Free your mind and your ass will follow.") The Jambalaya hosts a free dance throwdown with Humboldt Roller Derby DJ King Maxwell and Soul Night vet Jay Morg emphasizing 1970s breakbeats, degenerate disco stunners and bass-heavy boogie tunes. You may start looking for some hot love around 9:30 p.m.
What if you want more temperate than revolutionary punk, but more somber than disco madness? The Alibi's offering the Shrouds & Shadows Tour 2014, a sweet lineup of post-punk cover bands. To wit: Dead Souls (a tribute to Joy Division), plus The Reptile House (a tribute to The Sisters of Mercy), plus Spellbound (a tribute to Siouxsie and the Banshees). Cover is $7, music starts around 11 p.m., 21-and-over.
Plan the rest of your weekend and beyond with the full Setlist!
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Vroom! Vroom!
Posted By Henry Ellis on Thu, Jul 24, 2014 at 12:00 PM
You've likely noticed the influx of super shiny, classic cars on the highway lately. They just ooze nostalgia, and it's nearly impossible to take your eyes off of them. If you're driving, this can be a dangerous distraction. Luckily for you, most of these vintage American cars are headed to the same place: the Fortuna Redwood AutoXpo. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 25 to 27, Fortuna's Main Street and Rohner Park become a mecca for lovers of chrome, detail and the sound of revving engines.
It all starts with cruising on Friday, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Think of it as a parade without horses. Find a seat somewhere along Main Street or Fortuna Boulevard and soak up the view of the classic cars. Keep the theme going at the Sock Hop at the River Lodge from 8 p.m. to midnight ($5).
There's more to the AutoXpo than the cars, though. Check out the Artisans Fair at Rohner Park on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. If you're looking for something more vintage, you'll enjoy the antique show at the Veteran's Hall on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Need a new fender for that '57 Chevy? Haggle at the swap meet at Rohner Park on Saturday from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Judges score the cars on Main Street on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., and announce the winners on Sunday at Fortuna High School at 10 a.m. Should be pretty classic.
